John Krimsky Jr. is Interim Executive Director and Deputy Secretary General of the U.S. Olympic Committee, which he joined in 1986. He is working to raise his second billion dollars for U.S. athletes.

The Centennial Olympic Games are a heartbeat away for thousands of young men and women in America who share a dream of becoming a member of the strongest Olympic team this nation ever assembled.

Only 700 places on the team exist, and for many, there will be the ultimate thrill. For more there will be the disappointment of a dream not realized, but perhaps the hope for another try in 2000.

At the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, the drama is played out every day of every year.

In the new USOC Aquatic Center, 23-year-old Summer Sanders swims lap after grueling lap in the state-of-the-art pool. The 1992 Olympic double gold medalist came out of retirement to attempt yet another milestone in Atlanta on American soil.

Next door, in the fieldhouse, 23-year-old badminton player Kevin Hahn, a U.S. citizen since last December, hopes to raise his world ranking from 41st to the top 20. Six years ago, after leaving Shanghai, Han worked as a busboy in New York at a restaurant where his father cooked.

The USOC has a commitment to these athletes and thousands more.

We must raise funds as one of the fuel Olympic committees not dependent on the government. We have put in motion a new and critical program called Hometeam ‘96 so our elite athletes can find the vital stretch-run help they need to win in Atlanta. It might be a chance to live in the South to acclimate themselves, or the chance to train at one of the actual Olympic venues, or to obtain a type of equipment, but the USOC is committed to seeing that they get what they need.

The stunning announcement recently that NBC Sports won the American broadcast rights to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City will mean positive things for our athletes as well.

NBC will bring their stories and struggles into millions of homes, not only during the games but in the months and years ahead. The USOC will also share a portion of the rights fees and these vital financial resources will be put to work on behalf of our athletes.

The unique marriage of television and the Olympic movement is a marvelous piece of teamwork in a world marketplace where there are problems for many athletes and professional leagues. The fact is that the Olympic Games and Olympic athletes are the hottest and most powerful sports properties in the world.

While a significant portion of sport appears mired in a confused posture, the Olympic Games and our athletes shine like brilliant gemstones.

The USOC is hopeful that all Americans will take part in the celebration of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta or via NBC Sports, to share in the triumphs, joys, and struggles of our athletes.